THEY are affectionate and adorable, yet more than 15,000 cats and kittens have been dumped at animal shelters in the past year.

RSPCA Queensland spokeswoman Anna Hartley said November had marked the start of cat-breeding season and shelters across the state were now buckling under the weight of a ”kitten tsunami”. READ MORE HERE

In a bid to raise awareness of pet ownership responsibilities, as well as re-home older cats that normally get overlooked at Christmas time, Cat Haven has launched a Christmas campaign.

Media and Communications Coordinator Jessica Reid said that lack of sterilisation combined with lack of commitment to care for a cat and stick by it for the duration of its life would see the dumping of up to 2000 pets at Cat Haven in only two months between December and January.

With limited capacity to hold only 120 cats at a time at Cat Haven and nowhere for the surplus to go Ms Reid said this Christmas time would see the euthanasia of around 85 percent of animals they received that had everything to live for.

“This Christmas we want to send a clear message to the public that pet ownership comes with a range of responsibilities,” she said.

“Pet ownership isn’t for everyone, you need to make sure that you can afford to keep the pet and sterilise it and that you are prepared for a 20 year commitment.

“There’s also the cost of unanticipated vet bills, food, who will look after it when you go on holidays and if you’re living in a rental property if you are allowed to let you keep a cat.”

Ms Reid said that in the twelve days leading up to Christmas, Cat Haven was profiling 12 older cats to give them an extra chance of finding a new home.

“At Christmas it’s always the older pets that miss out, because they are not as cute as the kittens,” she said.

“This Christmas, Cat Haven is profiling twelve older cats which are named in Christmas theme- we have Holly, Rudolf, Twinkle, Sparkle, Santa, Snowflake, Stardust, Elfie, Jingles, Bell, Tinsel and The Grinch all looking for loving homes.”

Ms Reid said this Christmas all cats that Cat Haven sold would be free to a good home, but only on the condition that owners bought an adoption package that start at $125 which includes essential services such as sterilisation that owners would need to purchase anyway to take care of the cat.

To see the 12 cats featured in the campaign, visit Cat Haven at 23 Lemnos Street in Shenton Park, or view them at Cat Havens website by logging onto www.cathaven.com.au

Media contact: Media and Communications Coordinator Jessica Reid, 0413 105 200, jessica.reid@cathaven.com.au. JPGS OF THE 12 CATS OF CHRISTMAS ARE AVAILABLE TO EMAIL IF REQUIRED.

The Rockhampton Regional Council is urging residents to think twice before giving someone a pet this Christmas.

Councillor Tony Williams says many pets are often abandoned after the holiday period.

He is asking residents to consider the responsibilities of pet ownership.

“We as council are the last port of call, we often see a large number of dumpings over the Christmas period, so really consider, if you’re giving a pet for a present, to make sure that the person that receives that gift, they are fully aware of the responsibilities of owning a pet,” he said.

WITHIN about 100 metres of Monika Biernacki’s property at Ingleside you may as well turn off the GPS, open the car window and follow your ears.

This is a semi-rural part of Sydney with houses spaced wide apart on big blocks – which is a good thing, because the 100 or so dogs whose barking will guide you the last part of the journey to Monika’s Doggie Rescue make one hell of a racket.

It was always noisy, Ms Biernacki said, but as Christmas approached the number of dogs – and the noise – rose markedly.

“At this time of year it is frantic,” Ms Biernacki said.

“People get rid of their dogs before Christmas, not after Christmas. They do it because they are going away and they don’t want to pay boarding fees.”

The animals come from “death row” at various council pounds, and if it was not for Ms Biernacki their only future would be a lethal overdose of sedative.

Between 15 and 20 dogs arrive at the centre each week, a volume that is threatening to overwhelm Ms Biernacki and her volunteers.

“We just can’t cope with the oversupply,” she said.

“It’s just out of control.”

However, all the dogs will ultimately be rehomed, because, unlike most other centres, Ms Biernacki operates a strict no-kill policy.

“The no-kill way is the harder road. It’s much easier to say, ‘Well, the dog has been here for so many months so we’ll get rid of it and try with another one.’ But I think educated people realise there is a better way. You can’t just dispose of an animal because it doesn’t suit you. You don’t get rid of your kids because life gets too hard – so why should you get rid of your pets?”

And on top of her determination never to see a dog euthanased, Ms Biernacki makes her task even harder by focusing on animals that are particularly difficult to rehome.

One celebrated German shepherd cross with severe behavioural problems caused by abuse took six years to rehouse.

Another strict rule is that any new owner who has second thoughts about caring for a dog can return the animal cost-free. However, very few people take advantage of this policy, a result, Ms Biernacki said, of the way potential owners were screened.

After an exhaustive round of form-filling and interviews, intending adopters get to meet several dogs that might suit them.

“We always make sure the whole family – whoever is going to be involved with that dog – comes to meet the dog. They all touch it and feel it on neutral ground. If there is any negative reaction to one family member then we don’t proceed.”

Despite rehousing more than 8000 dogs and puppies over the past 15 years, Ms Biernacki believes her services will remain in high demand until there is a fundamental shift in the public’s attitude to pet ownership.

“We have just got to change that sort of attitude that they are disposable. We are an educated country yet the way we treat our companion animals is barbaric.”